WHAT'S NEWS

Americans for Prosperity released a new TV ad that criticizes Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) for failing to fix the scandal in the Department of Veterans Affairs before implementing Obamacare. The ad is part of AFP's new three-week, $940,000 TV and digital campaign in Louisiana, an effort that also includes another 30-second spot mocking Landrieu's inability to block new energy regulations. The group is also launching a three-week, $920,000 ad campaign against Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) targeting his support of President Obama. (National Journal)

"The White House on Tuesday formally requested $3.7 billion in emergency funding from Congress to deal with an influx of Central American minors along the southern border. But the proposal was quickly met with broad skepticism among Republican lawmakers, who were doubtful that the package would be approved quickly — if at all." (Washington Post)

"Capping off a months-long, bipartisan lobbying effort, Cleveland has been selected to host of the 2016 Republican National Convention. ... The GOP is considering June 28 and July 18 as possible dates for the convention," RNC chairman Reince Priebus said during a Fox News interview. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

In AK SEN, former Attorney General Dan Sullivan (R) released a new TV ad defending his stance on hunters' rights. (Hotline reporting)

In HI SEN, Sen. Brian Schatz (D) is up with a new TV ad featuring voters who tout his record. (Hotline reporting)

In IA SEN, state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) "told a crowd" at a January candidate forum "that she believed ... Obama had 'become a dictator' and that he needed to face the consequences for his executive actions, 'whether that's removal from office, whether that's impeachment.' ... On Tuesday, Ernst spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel downplayed the significance of the video." (Yahoo News)

In MT SEN, Sen. John Walsh (D) "raised more than $1.25 million in the second quarter" and had "more than $713,000 cash on hand." (release) Rep. Steve Daines (R) released a new TV ad highlighting his business experience. (release)

In NC SEN, the American Energy Alliance launched a new ad attacking Sen. Kay Hagan (D) over carbon taxes. The total TV and digital buy is for $230,000. (release)

In NH SEN, the League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund released a new TV ad tying former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) to the Koch brothers. The spot is backed by about $350,000. (Hotline reporting)

In FL-18, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) raised "over $750,000 in the second quarter" and had "nearly $2.7 million cash on hand." (release)

In MI-03, Club for Growth Action reported spending $176,000 on TV and radio ads opposing attorney Brian Ellis (R) to the FEC. (Hotline reporting)

In WV-03, Rep. Nick Rahall (D) raised $528,000 in the second quarter and had $1.1 million cash on hand, while state Sen. Evan Jenkins (R) raised "just over" $500,000 and has yet to disclose his cash-on-hand totals. (Charleston Daily Mail)

In WI-01, Rep. Paul Ryan (R) raised "more than $1.6 million" in the second quarter and had "more than $3.8 million" cash on hand. (Politico)

In FL GOV, the Republican Party of Florida responded to former Gov. Charlie Crist's (D) first TV ad with a spot of its own, in which the narrator says, "this time, we're just not buying it." (release)

In GA GOV, Gov. Nathan Deal (R) raised $1.27 million in the second quarter and had $2.6 million cash on hand. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

In PA GOV, Gov. Tom Corbett (R) released a new 60-second TV ad touting his record on jobs. (release)

In WI GOV, Gov. Scott Walker (R) released a new TV ad attacking former Trek executive Mary Burke (D) for a land purchase she made as state Commerce secretary. (release) Burke also launched a 60-second biographical TV ad. (release)

NUMBER BRUNCHING

In NH-01, a new WMUR-TV Granite State poll of LVs, conducted June 19-July 1, shows Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) trailing former Rep. Frank Guinta (R) 46-43%, but leading University of New Hampshire professor Dan Innis (R) 45-38%, in general election matchups. (release)

In NH-02, the Granite State poll shows Rep. Ann Kuster (D) leading former state Sen. Gary Lambert (R) 45-36% and state Rep. Marilinda Garcia (R) 49-35% in general election matchups. (release)

OUR CALL

Hotline editors weigh in on the stories that drive the day

• Julian Castro's Senate confirmation today will officially add him to the unusually large number of current elected officials Obama has tapped for his Cabinet, most of which have had major effects on national and state politics. Not only did Clinton's tenure at State help set up the 2016 presidential race, it also made Kirsten Gillbrand into a national Democratic star, for example. How Castro's appointment affects the future of Texas politics (like how Anthony Foxx's affects North Carolina) is one of the fascinating long-term political questions of the day. -- Scott Bland

• It's been noted that Republicans will struggle to challenge Rep. Patrick Murphy without a prolific fundraiser, since Murphy managed to raise about $4.7 million when he unseated then-Rep. Allen West in 2012 and showed no signs of slowing down in 2013. Yesterday, Murphy announced that he had raised $750,000 in the second quarter, and a local Republican group had to cancel a dinner with six leading challengers because it couldn't get enough people to pay $20 for the meal. Even against a first-term congressman in a Romney district, it takes exciting candidates to challenge an incumbent. -- Jack Fitzpatrick

• Vulnerable Senate Democrats are on to the game of separating from their national party, and perhaps no one is doing a better job of that right now than Alaska's Mark Begich. Just as his likely opponent received a big endorsement from an Alaska Native corporation, Begich made headlines in D.C. for sparring with Sen. Claire McCaskill on native groups' behalf. He couldn't ask for better timing for the fellow Democrat's accusation that he "single-handedly protects Alaska and the ANCs." -- Andrea Drusch

HAIR OF THE DOG

FRESH BREWED BUZZ

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) "accepted an invitation from ... Obama for a meeting between the two leaders on the border security crisis, the first such meeting after years of partisan posturing on the highly-charged issue." (Houston Chronicle)

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) "is back with his colleagues in Washington, D.C., after winning his hard-fought primary runoff — but he had a bit of trouble finding Senate Republicans' weekly luncheon on Tuesday. Cochran ... made a few wrong turns before accidentally ending up at Senate Democrats' luncheon." (The Hill)

"I think it's less likely than more likely. I haven't ruled it out." -- Former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), on running for governor in 2016 (Howey Politics Indiana)

"In a couple hours after landing in Denver" Tuesday, Obama "bounced around ... from one seemingly impromptu event to another, dining with a group of Coloradans and talking about pocketbook issues, shaking hands in a crowd of onlookers ... and making it over to the Wynkoop Brewing Company to share a beer and game of pool with" Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D). (KDVR-TV)

Ready for Hillary "has strategically distributed more than $175,000 to 33 state Democratic parties and national Democratic organizations." (Huffington Post)

"We had two Roosevelts. We had two Adams. It may be that certain families just have a sense of commitment or even a predisposition to want to be in politics." -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) (Der Spiegel)

MA GOV candidate Don Berwick (D) "went above and beyond the call of duty Friday when he leaped out of a Fourth of July parade to provide medical care for a woman who was unconscious." (Huffington Post)

"Congratulations to Cleveland on being awarded the #GOP2016 convention. But you still aren't getting @KingJames back!" -- Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), in a tweet

SWIZZLE CHALLENGE

Admiral Chester Nimitz signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the U.S.

The winner is Peter Law, and here's his Swizzle Challenge: "Who is the most recent former chairman of the Senate Republican Conference to have run for president, and who is the former chairman of the Senate Republican Conference who most recently ran for president?" The 3rd correct e-mailer gets to submit the next question.

SHOT...

"I'm not particularly eager to do it myself, and having been involved in six presidential campaigns, I know what it's like. But if nobody running is able to win and willing to address these issues, then I might have a change of heart." -- Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), on running for president in 2016 (Washington Post)